Photographic print circle cutter

ABSTRACT

DISCLOSED HEREIN IS A CENTERLESS CIRCLE CUTTER PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR TRIMMING CIRCULAR PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS FROM RECTANGULAR PRINTS OF NEGATIVES TAKEN WITH A FISH-EYE LENS. THE CIRCLE CIRCLE CUTTER COMPRISES A TRANSPARENT CENTRAL DISC HAVING A PERIPHERAL FLANGE OF LES THICKNESS THAN THE DISC, AND A RADIALLY ADJUSTABLE CUTTING ARM WHICH IS PIVOTABLY SUPPORTED ON AN UPSTANDING BOSS ON THE DISC AND CARRIES A CUTTING BLADE. ADJUSTMENT OF THE CUTTING ARM TO CUT VARIOUS DIAMETER CIRCLES IS FACILITATED BY A PLURALITY OF CONCENTRIC VARYING DIAMETER TEMPLATES OR RINGS HAVING INNER AND OUTER OFFSET FLANGES WHICH OVERLAP AND INTERFIT WITH THE FLANGES OF THE ADJACENT RINGS. THE OUTERMOST SURFACE OF THE FLANGE AND THE ASSOCIATED SHOULDER OF THE DISC AND TEMPLATE PROVIDE GUIDING SURFACES FOR THE CUTTING BLADE AND CUTTING ARM FOR THE APPROPRIATE DIAMETER CIRCLE.

7 Nov. 23, 1971 F. YANKE ETAL 3,621,514

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT CIRCLE CUTTER Filed June 30, 1970 a! 79201021 fill/11! wM-QZL W .1 Q4

marl

United States Patent Olfice 3,621,574 Patented Nov. 23, 1971 3,621,574 PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT CIRCLE CUTTER Gerald F. Yanke, 7301 N. Granville Road, Milwaukee, Wis. 53224, and Burton E. Yanke, W173 N9444 Erika Road, Menomonee Falls, Wis. 53051 Filed June 30, 1970, Ser. No. 51,062 Int. Cl. B26b 27/00 US. Cl. 30-290 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Disclosed herein is a centerless circle cutter particularily adapted for trimming circular photographic prints from rectangular prints of negatives taken with a fish-eye lens. The circle cutter comprises a transparent central disc having a peripheral flange of less thickness than the disc, and a radially adjustable cutting arm which is pivotably supported on an upstanding boss on the disc and carries a cutting blade. Adjustment of the cutting arm to cut various diameter circles is facilitated by a plurality of concentric varying diameter templates or rings having inner and outer offset flanges which overlap and interfit with the flanges of the adjacent rings. The outermost surface of the flange and the associated shoulder of the disc and template provide guiding surfaces for the cutting blade and cutting arm for the appropriate diameter circle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to centerless circle cutters, and more particularily, to circle cutters having radially adjustable cutting arms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a circle cutter adapted to cut circles of various diameters and in which a radially adjustable cutting arm is supported on an upstanding boss on a transparent disc. The cutting arm is guided for movement by an annular shoulder and a peripheral flange on the disc so that only the cutting edge of the cutting blade engages the work material and thus scratches on the work material are eliminated. To facilitate cutting circles of a preselected diameter larger than the diameter of the disc, the invention provides a series of rings or templates having inner and outer offset flanges, which interflt with the flanges of adjacent rings and the flange of the disc. The templates are concentrically arranged around the central disc to obtain the desired diameter with the outermost flange and associated shoulder guiding the cutting blade and cutting arm.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following disclosure.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in fragmentary section of a circle cutter embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a circle cutter shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view with portions removed of the circle cutter shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures.

FIG. 1 discloses a circle cutter in accordance with the invention which is generally designated and which includes a central disc 12 which is desirably constructed of transparent plastic and includes a peripheral flange 14 which extends from an annular shoulder 16.

The circle cutter 10 includes a radially adjustable cutting arm 18. The cutting arm 18 includes a first arm portion 20 and a second arm portion 22. The first arm portion 20 has an upwardly open channel or guideway 24 which slidably receives the second arm portion 22. The second arm portion 22 is secured at the desired position by a bolt 23 which extends through a longitudinal slot 17 in the arm portion 20. A knurled nut 29 clamps the arm portion 22 against the channel base 25.

Means are provided for rotatably or pivotably supporting the first arm portion 20 on the disc 12. In the disclosed construction, the means includes an upstanding concentric boss 26 on the disc 12 and a bolt 28 which extends through an aperture 30 in the boss. A knurled nut 32 having a shoulder 33 and a washer 35 secures the arm portion 20 to the boss 26. The head 31 of the bolt 28 is located in a recess 37 in the disc and covered by a friction pad 39 which prevents slippage of the circle cutter.

The second arm portion 22 includes a cutting head 34 which includes a mounting block 36 formed integrally with the arm portion 22- and which has a horizontal surface 38 and a vertical surface 40. A cutting blade 42 with slots 44 is received by vertically offset pins 46. The cutting blade 42 is secured in place by a clamping member 48, which carries two bolts 50 which are threadably received in the mounting block 36. The slots in the cutting blade permit adjustment of the depth of cut. A knob 51 is pivotally connected to the mounting block 36 to provide a handle for guiding movement of the cutting arm.

To facilitate adjustment of the cutting arm and cutting blade 42 to cut a desired circle size, the invention provides a series of concentric templates 52 of varying diameters having inner and outer offset flanges respectively 54 and 56.

FIG. 2 shows a single template 52 with the inner flange 54 overlapping the flange 14 of the disc 12. When using the template 52, the cutting blade 42 will be guided by the outermost surface 58. The surface 38 of the mounting block 36 is supported on the upper surface 60 of the flange 56. If the circle cutter 10 is used without any templates, the surface 38 is supported on the upper surface of the flange 14 and the cutting blade is guided by the surface 64.

The templates can have outside diameters appropriate for conventional rectangular photographic printing paper such as 5 inches by 7 inches and 8 inches by 10- inches. When cutting a circular print of 8 x 10 inch paper, the outside diameter of the appropriate template could be 7 /2 inches.

The disc 14 can be provided with concentric grooves 68 or other concentric indicia to facilitate centering of the circle cutter 10 on the circular image on the print.

We claim:

1. A circle cutter comprising a circular disc having an annular shoulder and a peripheral flange extending from said shoulder, said flange having a thickness less than said disc, a cutting arm, said arm including a vertical surface adapted to engage and be guided by said annular shoulder, said arm further including a horizontal surface supported on the upper surface of said flange and, means for rotatably supporting said cutting arm at the center of said disc to provide a pivotal axis for said arm.

2. A circle cutter in accordance with claim 1 including a series of concentric rings of different diameters, each of said rings having inner and outer offset flanges adapted to overlap and interfit with adjacent flanges of adjacent rings with said outermost flange of said outermost ring providing a guiding surface for said cutting arm for cutting a preselected diameter.

3. A circle cutter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for'ro'tat'ably supporting said cutting arm comprises an upstanding concentric boss on said disc and means pivotally connecting said arm to said boss.

4. A circle cutter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cutting arm has a first arm portion, a longitudinally extending slot in said first portion, a guideway in said first porton, a second arm portion movable in said guide Way and means for securing said first arm portion to said second arm portion.

5 A circle cutter comprising a central disc having an outwardly projecting peripheral flange of less thickness than said disc, means on said disc for adjustably sup porting a. cutting arm, cutting means carried by said arm, said arm having a surface adapted to engage said flange, a series of concentric rings having inner and outer References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1866 Butler 40896 1/1889 Rowland 30310 X ANDREW R. J UHASZ, Primary Examiner M. KOCZO, JR., Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 303l0; 83-565 

